Another Unwelcome Guest

This morning I opened the blinds to find this water moccasin on our back porch.  Why it would come here away from water, I don’t know.  I’m just glad I saw it out the window before one of the kids happened upon it or it ate one of our kitties.  And I’m glad Jason’s move got cancelled this morning so he was here to kill it. 

Dallie’s 8th Birthday and Baptism

Dallie is a special treat to have at our house.  She’s the perfect combination of femininity and tom-boy.  She loves to decorate, create, ride horses, garden, read, and be the boss.

Jason’s Uncle Ken’s family were driving through Waco and came out that night for birthday cake. 

Dallie wore the same baptism dress I wore when I was baptized.  And Kache isn’t taller than me yet, he just has heels on his boots.

Four Corners

South of Moab is Hole in the Rock.  A relation of my dad’s by marriage built this house that is now a petting zoo and gift shop.

We stopped in Monticello and visited Grandma Erma’s grave site.

And then on to Colorado.  The south end of the Mesa Verde.  We’re hoping to stop there next year.  After driving through this area I felt the need to read a Louis L’Amour book!

Next up: Four Corners!  Jason had to wait in line for 15 minutes so we could take our turn in the Four Corners.  

This is called Ship Rock in New Mexico. 

Looking north to Colorado.

I wish I would have taken some pictures of the Thoreau area.  I’m guessing that is where they got the inspiration for Radiator Springs in Cars.  I40 heading toward Albuquerque. 

We stayed the night in Albuquerque (and thought it was quite pretty as the sun was setting). And the next day made it home.  It was a great trip seeing friends and family and some amazing new country.

Arches National Park

We drove home by way of Utah and spent the night in Moab.  I thought I had seen desolate in Idaho and Wyoming, but it doesn’t compare to the drive from Price to Moab. I didn’t take any pictures because there wasn’t anything of which to take a picture.  The kids were happy to swim in the hotel in Moab and we spent the next morning in Arches National Park.  The colors and formation were amazing. 

The view from the hotel.

We brought a little red dirt home with us.

Sadly, we had some grumpy, tired kids, so part of our drive through Arches we had one sleeping, two reading, one listening to a book on tape and Kolt.